Only One Way to Heaven

Why is it important to rightly divide the word? Because there is nothing more important then hearing what God has to say to YOU.

It is critical that we follow the plan of salvation God has prepared for us. If we approach God in any other way it is like waving a fist in his face and telling Him, I set the rules and you will accept me on my terms. However, there is only one way to approach God; God’s way. Any other approach is doomed to failure.

The Printer

This reminds me of an experience my parents had with a printer. The ink in their printer had run dry so they needed to replace it with a new ink cartridge. Not sure how to do this they consulted the manual for guidance. They studied the directions thoroughly but no matter how hard they tried they could not successfully replace the ink cartridge.

When I came over to visit my parents they related their frustrating experience to me. I was bewildered. I could not understand how something so straightforward could have stumped them so I asked them to show me the manual. As soon as I saw it I laughed. They were looking at the wrong manual; it was for a dot matrix printer they no longer owned. I pulled out the correct manual and in a manner of seconds we had the ink cartridge installed.

The manual was correct, it was without error on the procedure for changing the ribbon; the only problem was it was not for the printer they were using. When approaching God, we have two choices: Approach God our way or approach God His way. If we choose our way, we will be as useless as a printer without ink, only suitable for the trash.

Expressions of Faith

God has required people to demonstrate their faith in different ways through the ages. Though the expressions of faith may have been different they have all been based on Christ shedding His blood for us.

Do you know what the accepted way to approach God is in this present age? Are we to show our faith by animal sacrifices? Are we to show our faith with water baptism? Are we to show our faith by building an Ark? Are we to show are faith by keeping the law? Are we to show our faith by confessing our sins? Are we to show our faith by doing all these things, some of these things, or something else entirely?

At one time or another each of these things were required by God. The key question is what is God requiring now? What is God telling me to do? It is important that we make this distinction. 2Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. If we erroneously follow the wrong instructions, instructions written to someone else it will not save us. Yes, it is the word of God, perfect without error but it was not written to us.

The parts of the bible written to us in this dispensation of grace can be found in the Pauline epistles. Do not confuse this to mean we are not to study other parts of the bible because God clearly instructs us to study the whole bible. 2Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, It has many valuable lessons to teach us and applications for our lives. By studying the whole bible we can gain a clearer understanding and fuller knowledge of the Word. There is much profit to us, as long as we follow God’s warning to rightly divide the word.

What is required for our salivation?

What is the excepted way to approach God today? We are saved because Christ died for our sins. 1Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, We are like filthy rags to God and can not approach Him in clothed in this attire. Isa 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. If we attempt to approach God by good works, living a good life, confession, water baptism, etc. we will not be acceptable to Him. He will only see us as dressed in filthy rags. It is impossible for us to earn our salvation. We do not have the power to make a corruptible thing incorruptible. Only God can do that.

Sin and the nature of God are at the opposite ends of the spectrum and God will not allow any one with the taint of sin into heaven. There is absolutely nothing we can do to wash the stink of sin from us. Romans 3:10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; Sin is an abomination to God. This is very bad news for sinners, which includes all of mankind. We are doomed to spend eternity separated from God in a place the bible calls hell. Fortunately, God is rich in mercy and love! God so loved the world that He showed us His mercy, and sent His Son to die on the cross so that we may have eternal life. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Sin has deadly consequences and there was nothing we could do to escape its grasp. Only God could save us from its deadly grip and it cost Him His Sons life to accomplish that. There was only one cure for this deadly disease, and God in the ultimate demonstration of love did not spare His own Son so that we may have life. Not only did we receive eternal life but also all heavenly blessings. Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,By God’s greatest sacrifice we received the most wonderful gift. I hope you appreciate what it cost God and do not treat it frivolously because it is a priceless gift.

We deserved hell but God is offering us heaven. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. All that we need to do to enjoy eternal life is to accept God’s gift the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

God is only offering one way into heaven and I hope before it is to late that you accept God’s gift and trust that Jesus Christ died for your sins because you never know when your life may be cut short.